PRIME MINISTER

Accountability to Parliament

Howard Stoate: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his accountability to Parliament.

Tony Blair: I have approached the Chairman of the Liaison Committee with a view to appearing before Select Committee Chairmen to discuss domestic and international affairs every six months. Further discussions will continue with the Liaison Committee and the House Authorities to work out the precise details. These sessions will be held in public and will give Select Committee Chairmen the opportunity to ask me a range of in-depth questions. I will of course continue to account to Parliament weekly on the issues of the day during Prime Minister's Questions on a Wednesday.

Voluntary Sector

David Drew: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects the Performance and Innovation Unit's investigation into the voluntary sector to report.

Tony Blair: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the legal and regulatory framework of the voluntary sector will be published in due course.

Digital Equipment

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was.

Tony Blair: None.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by his Office, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost;
	(2)  if he will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by his Office, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 12 February 2002, Official Report, column 188W.

Ministerial Announcements

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the process by which Ministers decide whether an announcement is too controversial to be made in a pre-election period.

Tony Blair: Guidance is issued in relation to the conduct of Government business in pre-election periods. Decisions on announcements during pre-election periods will be taken in accordance with the guidance.
	Guidance specific to the forthcoming elections to local government on 2 May was published on 21 March 2002. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House, and are also available from the Vote Office.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Empty Council Housing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the lost income from empty council housing was broken down by local authority in England, in each of the last three years.

Stephen Byers: Lost income from empty council housing can be due to two main sources: (a) lost rent and (b) lost council tax.
	(a) I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 February, Official Report, column 32W concerning the lost rental income from empty council dwellings in 200/01. The figures for 1998/99 and 199/00 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	(b) Specific information on lost council tax by local authority is not available centrally.

Affordable Housing (Rural Areas)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the provision of social and affordable housing in villages; and how proposals in the planning Green Paper would affect this.

Sally Keeble: Our planning policies encourage the provision of affordable housing on allocated sites in villages and through the "rural exception policy". The exception policy is a special provision that applies only to rural areas and to sites, within or adjoining a village, where permission would not otherwise be given for new housing development. We have proposed to replace the present system of negotiated planning obligations with a tariff set by local authorities which will widen the type of developments contributing to affordable housing. The tariff would be spent in line with the priorities set out in local development plans, based on local and regional assessment. We expect the provision of affordable housing to be a high priority.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he issues to passenger transport authorities about travel and subsistence costs.

Sally Keeble: The Government issued "Guidance on Councillors" Allowances, Tax and Social Security Benefits" to local authorities, including passenger transport authorities, in August 1997. In April 2000 the Department issued an appendix to Joint Circular 1/86 setting out the maximum rates of travel and subsistence allowance which may be paid to members of local authorities, including passenger transport authorities.

10-year Transport Plan

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the status is of each of the 100 new bypasses aimed at reducing congestion and pollution outlined in the 10 year transport plan; what the (a) start and (b) completion date is of each project; and what the date is on which each of the 11 multi-modal studies outlined in the 10 year transport plan will be completed and published.

David Jamieson: On (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths) on 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1098W. In regard to (b), of the 11 Tranche 1 Multi-Modal Studies outlined in the Ten-Year Transport Plan, four have already reported as indicated below:
	
		
			 Multi-Modal Study & Location Reported 
		
		
			 Access to Hastings December 2000 
			 Cambridge to Huntingdon (A14) August 2001 
			 South East Manchester (Stockport, 
			 Manchester Airport Link West, Poynton) September 2001 
			 West Midlands Area (M5/M6 & M42 
			 between M40 and M6) October 2001 
		
	
	The timetable for the remaining seven Tranche 1 Multi-Modal Studies that are currently in progress is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Multi-Modal Study & Location Date Expected to Report 
		
		
			 West Midlands to North West (M6) May 2002 
			 North/South Movements in the East Midlands 
			 (M1 Junctions 21 to 30) May 2002 
			 London to South West & South Wales 
			 (A303, M4) May 2002 
			 South & West Yorkshire Motorway Box 
			 (M1 J30 to A1 West Yorks/M18 & A1(M) June 2002 
			 Tyneside Area (A1/A19) June 2002 
			 A453 (M1 to J24 (Nottingham)) June 2002 
			 ORBIT—Transport Solutions Around 
			 London (M25) Autumn 2002

Urban Sounding Board

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the sub-groups of the Urban Sounding Board, the membership of each group and their terms of reference.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 23 April 2002
	Four sub-groups have been set up to help target the advice members of the Urban Sounding Board give to Ministers. The sub groups cover:
	(i) the obstacles to effective physical regeneration and how these might be addressed (led by Prof. Brian Robson);
	(ii) how good practice in urban design quality and public space provision might be adopted more widely (led by Robin Nicholson);
	(iii) how urban policy performance management might be used to improve target setting and measurement for delivering better towns and cities (led by Wendy Thomson);
	(iv) how to make the Urban Summit, to be held in Birmingham on 31 October/1 November, a worthwhile experience for all those expected to attend (led by Prof. Michael Parkinson).
	They are informal, short-term groups of members tasked with taking forward discussion on the above issues and identifying areas for possible action. The groups are made up of members of the Urban Sounding Board and others with particular interests and expertise invited by the sub-group leader. Their findings will be considered by the Urban Sounding Board as a whole.

Telecommunications Masts

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many telecommunications masts are located in areas of outstanding natural beauty, world heritage sites and other conservation areas; and what these locations are.

Sally Keeble: The Department does not hold information about the number or locations of existing mobile phone masts.
	However, the Radiocommunications Agency have made information available to the public via their website (www.radio.gov.uk). The database, called "Sitefinder", gives details about all operational mobile phone base stations and their emissions. Sitefinder employs a "user-friendly" map-based facility indicating the location of cellular phone base stations. More information on a particular base station is available by simply clicking on the position indicator for the base station in question.

Telecommunications Masts

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures are being taken to minimise the number of telecommunications masts that are sited in areas of outstanding natural beauty, world heritage sites and other conservation areas.

Sally Keeble: Proposals to install telecommunications masts are for the Local Planning Authority to determine in the first instance, taking account of local planning policies and national planning policy guidance. Current planning guidance on telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8 (revised) (PPG8). Advice on proposed development in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks is given in PPG7—The Countryside. Advice on proposed development in world heritage sites and conservation areas is given in PPG15—Planning and the Historic Environment.
	The Government attaches great importance to minimising the impact of telecommunications development on the environment. Our policy is to encourage mast and site sharing and to make good use of existing buildings and other structures for the siting of antennas. The mobile phone industry has pledged to provide local planning authorities with annual rollout plans for each authority's area. We strongly encourage the use of pre-rollout discussions based upon these plans and collaboration between the operators and authorities as a means of overcoming potential technical and environmental constraints, particularly in designated areas. These discussions should also provide an early opportunity to explore possible alternative approaches, particularly the opportunities for mast and site sharing and also in terms of the location and alternative design of the apparatus.

Planning Appeals

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will issue guidance to the Planning Inspectorate on the interpretation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in the determination of appeals.

Sally Keeble: Inspectors received extensive training on human rights matters prior to the coming into force of the Human Rights Act. Inspectors are kept appraised of key Court judgments involving various Convention rights.

Gypsies

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to amend the regulations governing rights of abode for gypsy families.

Sally Keeble: The main legislation governing rights of abode for Gypsy families are the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, and the subsequent Caravan Sites Act of 1968.
	There are no current plans to amend the legislation.

Gypsies

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance his Department issues to the Planning Inspectorate in determining appeals concerning gypsy families.

Sally Keeble: The Government's policy on Gypsy sites and planning is set out in Circular 1/94. This puts Gypsies on the same footing as others in relation to the planning system whilst recognising their special accommodation needs. Inspectors will also have regard to other relevant planning policies set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Circulars. As with all planning decisions, each must be considered on its particular circumstances and merits.

Councillors' Interests

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his response to those parish and town councillors who are refusing to sign the new declaration of interests.

Alan Whitehead: As we have consistently explained, Parish councillors have for many years been subject to a Code which includes the requirement to declare their interests. The new Code, which includes a new requirement to complete a register of interests, has been supported by the National Association of Local Councils and the Association of Larger Local Councils, and by the majority of Parish Councils who responded to our consultation. I would encourage all councillors to accept the new Code.

Councillors' Interests

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the instances in which breaches of declaration of interest by parish and town councillors have been reported to his Department.

Alan Whitehead: There is no requirement for such breaches to be reported to my Department. Under section 58 of the Local Government Act 2000, written allegations of a councillor breaching the new code of conduct are to be sent to the Standards Board for England.

Rural Bus Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on what support is available to maintain and enhance rural bus services.

Sally Keeble: My Department provides support for improving and maintaining rural bus services by means of the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus Challenge schemes. A total of £198 million has been allocated to those two schemes for the period 2001–02 to 2003–04.
	In addition, the Countryside Agency supports small-scale rural transport projects, such as community mini-buses, through its Rural Transport Partnership scheme for which £32 million is available for the period 2001–02 to 2003–04.
	Local authorities of course can—and do—add to this funding by support from their own resources.

Rural Bus Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of the Traffic Commissioners with specific regard to the maintenance and enhancement of bus servies in rural areas.

Sally Keeble: The Traffic Commissioners have no role in the provision of individual bus services. That is entirely a matter for the bus operator, and the relevant local authority if the service is subsidised.
	All local bus services must have their particulars registered with the relevant Traffic Commissioner. Operators can face disciplinary action by the Commissioner if they do not operate the service as described in the registration. A new, more flexible penalty power comes into force on 1 May.

Mass Decontamination

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent reports have been commissioned on effective methods of mass decontamination from (a) chemical and (b) biological (i) attacks and (ii) disasters; and if he will place the reports in the Library.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	Reports have been commissioned from experts in the health, fire and military fields both in the UK and overseas. These reports are not being made public.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Departmental Functions

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the functions of his Department that have been (a) market tested and (b) outsourced in each of the last five years, specifying the (i) money saving and (ii) percentage saving in each case.

Robin Cook: My Department has not market tested any of its functions.
	However, it currently outsources a number of services including payroll (Chessington ADP), PCSPS pension services (Paymaster), cleaning, security, building maintenance and IT service and support all of which have been in place for longer than five years.
	During 2001, the Internal Management Consultancy Branch of the Cabinet Office undertook a review of Central Services (Personnel, Finance and Accommodation). The recommendation was that all services were to be kept in-house to retain value for money and service levels to staff and management.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by his Office, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Robin Cook: My Department subscribes to the following magazines and periodicals:
	
		
			 Name Frequency Copies Annual Cost 
		
		
			 Diplomatic Service List Book Six monthly 1 £27.50 
			 Vacher's Parliamentary Companion Quarterly 24 £3072.00 
			 The Railway Guide Monthly 1 £99.00 
			 The New Statesman Weekly 2 £211.20 
			 The Economist Weekly 1 £132.00

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by his Office, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Robin Cook: My department subscribes to the following newspapers:
	
		
			 Monday to Saturday Copies Annual cost 
		
		
			 The Guardian 6 £720.00 
			 The Guardian (Saturday) 1 £48.00 
			 The Daily Telegraph 2 £240.00 
			 The Independent 6 £720.00 
			 The Independent on Sunday 1 £43.20 
			 The Daily Express 5 £420.00 
			 The Daily Mail 5 £480.00 
			 The Mirror 5 £384.00 
			 The Sun 5 £288.00 
			 The Times 2 £192.00 
			 The Financial Times 3 £720.00 
			 The Scotsman 2 £240.00 
			 The Daily Record 2 £168.00 
			 The Tribune 1 £60.00 
			 Evening Standard 4 £336.00 
			 Sunday papers   
			 The Sunday Times 1 £57.60 
			 The Independent on Sunday 1 £57.60 
			 Scotland on Sunday 1 £38.40

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how much has been spent by his Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Robin Cook: For years in which information is available, my Department spent the following on training staff in leadership skills:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 1,355 
			 1999–2000 1,250 
			 2000–2001 2,495

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council 
	(1)  how much has been spent by his Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much has been spent by his Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Robin Cook: Nothing.

Digital Equipment

Tim Yeo: To ask the President of the Council how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was.

Robin Cook: None.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many claimants have been in receipt of incapacity benefit payment for (a) six months or less, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one and two years and (d) between two and five years;
	(2)  what the average period of payment is for current claimants of incapacity benefit; and what the comparable averages were in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many people received payment of incapacity benefit in each year since 1997; and how many of these represented new claims;
	(4)  how many new claimants of incapacity benefit in the last six months represented (a) transfers from other social security benefits, (b) people moving from employment onto benefit and (c) people moving onto benefit from unknown origins;
	(5)  how many people leaving incapacity benefit in the last six months represented (a) transfers to other social security benefits, (b) people moving from benefit into employment and (c) people moving off benefit to unknown destinations;
	(6)  what percentage of the working age population is in receipt of incapacity benefit; and what the comparable averages were in each year since 1997;
	(7)  how many new claimants of incapacity benefit in the last six months had been in receipt of either (a) jobseeker's allowance or (b) income support at any time during the previous 12 months.

Nick Brown: We are committed to helping Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients into work where they wish to do so and to provide security for those who cannot. Since 22 October 2001, people making new or repeat claims to IB in the Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices are required to participate in a Jobcentre Plus interview and a review at least every three years.
	The reviews enable IB customers to discuss with their Personal Advisor the help, benefits and opportunities available to them. The interviews also provide an ideal opportunity for people to participate in the New Deal schemes.
	For many people the key aim of the review is to ensure that they are receiving the right level of benefit. For others we can show them the help and support that is available to enable them to move back into full or part-time work.
	The available information is in the tables:
	The number of people in Great Britain receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB) at 30 November 2001, by the duration of their claim.
	
		
			  Duration of IB Number (Thousands) 
		
		
			  Total 1,503.8 
			 (a) Under six months 132.5 
			 (b) Six months to one year 108.7 
			 (c) One to two years 154.9 
			 (d) Two to five years 348.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. The table includes a small number of people who are resident overseas.
	Source:
	Figures are taken from a 5 per cent sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
	
		Average IB claim duration between 1997 and 2000
		
			 Average IB claim duration at: Average Duration (weeks) 
		
		
			 31 March 2001 328 
			 31 March 2000 326 
			 31 March 1999 315 
			 31 March 1998 302 
			 31 March 1997 292 
		
	
	Note:
	Average duration has been rounded to the nearest week.
	Source:
	Figures are taken from 1 per cent sample of claimants.
	The number of people who were receiving IB in Great Britain and the number that were new awards.
	
		
			Thousands 
			  IB recipients current at some time in the previous year Of whom were current IB recipients at the dates shown Total who started a non-linking 1  spell in the previous year (new awards) 
		
		
			 31 March 2001 1,979 1,573 388 
			 31 March 2000 1,995 1,514 364 
			 31 March 1999 2,125 1,615 379 
			 31 March 1998 2,287 1,729 456 
			 31 March 1997 2,362 1,798 488 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These figures do not include IB claims, which link to a previous IB claim, although they may link with Statutory Sick Pay.
	2. The table includes a small number of people who are resident overseas.
	Source:
	Figures are taken from 1 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit Computer System.
	Information on Incapacity Benefit claimants immediately prior to a new claim or immediately after ceasing claiming IB.
	Information on the status of IB claimants immediately prior to starting a claim and immediately after ceasing to claim is not available.
	Percentage of the working age population in Great Britain receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB)
	
		
			 IB recipients at: IB as a percentage of the working age population 
		
		
			 31 August 2001 4.2 
			 31 August 2000 4.2 
			 31 August 1999 4.3 
			 31 August 1998 4.3 
			 31 August 1997 4.5 
		
	
	Sources:
	Figures are taken from 5 per cent samples of the benefit computer system, which excludes a small number of cases held clerically.
	Population data are from the Office for National Statistics, mid-year population estimates.
	Note:
	The table includes a small number of people who are resident overseas.
	Number of Incapacity Benefit (IB) spells commencing in the period 1 December 2000 to 31 May 2001 in Great Britain, and whether they had been in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Income Support (IS) at some time in the previous year.
	
		
			  Thousands 
		
		
			 All IB commencements 330.5 
			 Both Income Support and JSA shown 29.7 
			 IS only shown 40.5 
			 JSA only shown 90.7 
			 No IS / JSA shown 169.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Not all of these shown in the table below will have moved directly from JSA or IS to IB, some will have worked in between claims.
	3. The table includes a small number of cases where the customer is resident overseas and excludes a small number of short duration Income Support claims.
	Source:
	Figures are taken from merges between 5 per cent samples of the IS, JSA and IB benefit computer system extracts.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Department's procedure is for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Department's Procedures for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 is documented within the DWP Data Protection Manual. A copy of the manual has been placed in the Library.

Official Visits

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will list the official visits to (a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in his Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits;
	(2)  if he will list the official visits within the UK outside London made by each Minister in his Department in 2001, giving for each (a) the origin and destination and (b) the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend for Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 6 March 2002, Official Report, column 421W.

External Contracts

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years;
	(2)  which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with his Department in each of the past five years.

Nick Brown: holding reply 28 February 2002
	The questions cover a period prior to the establishment of the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2001. The information requested on contracts let by the ex Employment Service and ex-Department of Social Security is not held centrally in the new Department and the question could only be answered at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Work and Pensions lets a large number of contracts in a year, most of which are for low value purchases. The information required to answer the question is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

User Consultation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what new steps his Department took in 2001–02 to consult the users of its services about their wishes and expectations; and if he will publish the findings.

Ian McCartney: holding reply 9 April 2002
	The Department has undertaken a number of surveys with users of its services in 2001–2002. Details are in the table.
	
		
			 Title Actual/planned publication date Report Number (where appropriate) 
		
		
			 Disability and Carer Service—Customer Satisfaction Survey Publication will be in line with normal Departmental arrangements  
			 Benefits Agency—Customer Satisfaction Survey Results are used internally to help improve service delivery  
			 Evaluation of the Minimum Income Guarantee Claim Line August 2001 DWP Research Report 147 
			 Survey of Entitled Non-recipients of the Minimum Income Guarantee and possible future Pension Credit Recipients End of 2002  
			 Survey of Attitudes to Electronic Government May 2002  
			 The Short-term effects of Compulsory Participation in 
			 ONE—Survey of Clients Cohort 2 Wave 1 December 2001 DWP Research Report 156 
			 Medium term effects of Compulsory Participation in 
			 ONE—Survey of Clients Cohort 2 Wave 1 Winter 2002–3  
			 Work Based Learning for Adults—Large Scale Survey July 2003  
			 New Deal for Young People: Increasing Flexibilities in 
			 Provision Spring 2003  
			 Evaluation of the StepUp programme First Interim Report due July 2003  
			 Evaluation of remote Jobpoints June 2002  
			 Evaluation of enhanced JSA regime at 6 and 12 months Date to be determined  
			 Evaluation of ES Plus Online Internal report completed February 2002  
			 Joint Claims: Quantitative Survey Stage 2 June 2002  
			 Evaluation of New Deal for Disabled People—National 
			 extension Series of reports will be published from late 2002 to Spring 2004 
			 Early Evaluation of Jobpoints in Pathfinder Offices June 2001 ESR 76 
			 Employment Service National Customer Satisfaction Survey 
			 2000 June 2001 ESR 80 
			 New Deal for the Long Term Unemployed Pilots: 
			 quantitative evaluation Stage 2 survey June 2001 ESR 81 
			 Northern Region Call Centre Pilot Employers and 
			 Jobseekers Surveys July 2001 ESR 84 
			 Evaluation of the New Deal 50 plus: Research with 
			 Individuals (Wave 1) September 2001 ESR 91 
			 Joint Claims for JSA—Stage 1 Survey September 2001 ESR 94 
			 Evaluation of New Deal for Lone Parents A survey of Lone 
			 Parents on Income Support November 2001 ESR 101 
			 Modernising ES—Baseline Employer Survey January 2002 ESR 107 
			 Baseline Jobseeker Traffic Survey January 2002 ESR 108 
			 Early Views on the Internet Job Bank January 2002 ESR 109

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent by her Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: Spending on training in Leadership skills for which records are maintained centrally was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–2002 6,150 
			 2000–2001 16,804 
			 1999–2000 10,075 
			 1998–1999 80,781 
			 1997–1998 nil 
		
	
	As training budgets are delegated to individual DFID departments both in the UK and overseas, these figures may not represent the totality of spending in this area. An exhaustive calculation would involve disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent by her Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: In the past five financial years DFID's spending on voice coaching has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–2002 Nil 
			 2000–2001 Nil 
			 1999–2000 Ministers Nil, Officials £250 
			 1998–1999 Nil 
			 1997–1998 Nil

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent by her Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Clare Short: There has been no spending by my Department in the last five financial years on training for Ministers and officials by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by her Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Hilary Benn: The Department no longer purchases newspapers from a central budget. Our last record for central subscriptions and expenditure is shown below, for November 2001.
	
		
			 Subscription Number of copies (Mon–Sat) Number of copies (Sunday) Annual cost 
		
		
			 Daily Mail 1 — £100.80 
			 Daily Mirror 1 — £80.64 
			 Daily Telegraph 3 — £378.00 
			 East Kilbride News 1 — £24.00 
			 Evening Standard 3 — £252.00 
			 Express 1 — £88.48 
			 Financial Times 5 — £1,260.00 
			 Guardian 5 — £1,102.50 
			 Herald 2 — £260.00 
			 Independent 4 — £504.00 
			 Scotsman 2 — £208.00 
			 Sun 1 — £79.20 
			 Times 5 — £815.60 
			 Independent on Sunday — 1 £72.00 
			 Observer — 1 £72.00 
			 Sunday Telegraph — 1 £60.00 
			 Sunday Times — 1 £72.00 
			   Total cost £5,429.22

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by her Department, stating for each subscription the (a) number of copies taken and (b) annual cost.

Hilary Benn: The Department's core, central subscriptions to magazines and periodicals are listed in tables, copies of which have been placed in the library. A number of DFID departments and country offices have direct journal subscriptions, but full details of decentralised expenditure could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on what help she provides to assist the development of primary education in the Sudan.

Hilary Benn: As my right hon. Friend said to the House recently, Official Report, 17 April, column 561, development in the Sudan cannot take place around an ongoing war. It is not realistic to expect sustained improvements to education while the conflict continues. We are trying to improve the humanitarian effort and will do what we can to support education for children affected by the conflict within that context.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Government of the Sudan on the subject of its use of oil revenues for development purposes.

Hilary Benn: During my right hon. Friend's visit to the Sudan in January she made clear to the government the importance of their commitment to poverty reduction and the use of government revenues (not only from oil) for sustainable development.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the British Council with regard to the teaching of English in the Sudan.

Hilary Benn: Neither myself nor my right hon. Friend have had recent discussions with the British Council with regard to the teaching of English in the Sudan.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Mental Health

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are set for the (a) circumstances and (b) length of custody of persons with a history of mental illness; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: If a police officer has any suspicion that a person held in police custody may be mentally disordered or mentally handicapped, he must apply special protections for that person as set out in the relevant code of practice (Code C) issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). These include summoning an "appropriate adult" to assist and advise the detained person and (where the person appears to be suffering from a mental disorder) calling for the police surgeon.
	Persons with a history of mental illness are subject to the same rules covering length of detention as other detainees. Under PACE where a person has been arrested for an offence they may be detained in police custody for up to 24 hours without being charged. This period can be extended to 36 hours by a police officer of the rank of Superintendent or above where a person is arrested for a serious arrestable offence. Further periods of detention up to a maximum of 96 hours can be approved by a magistrates' court.
	Where a person arrested is charged with an offence they must be released from police detention unless certain conditions apply, such as where the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the person charged will fail to appear in court to answer to bail. Where such a person is kept in police detention they must be brought before the relevant magistrates' court as soon as is practicable and normally not later than the first sitting after they are charged with the offence.
	Where a person charged with an offence is arrested on warrant for failing to attend a magistrates' court, they must be taken back to that magistrates' court as soon as practicable. If a person is arrested in a different part of the country they must appear not later than the first sitting of the magistrates' court after their transfer back to the relevant area.
	All persons detained in police custody have their detention reviewed on a regular basis. The first review is no later than six hours after the detention was first authorised. The second review is no later than nine hours after the first review. Subsequent reviews are at intervals of not more than nine hours.
	A mentally disordered or mentally handicapped person who has been detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 can be taken to a police station as a place of safety to be assessed. The person can be detained only until such time as they have been interviewed and examined by an approved social worker and a registered medical practitioner, and suitable arrangements have been made for their treatment and care.
	There are currently several strands of work focused on improving police practice in relation to mentally ill individuals. The Home Office, the Department of Health and the Association of Chief Police Officers are considering the development of national protocols covering the interaction between the police and health services in dealing with the mentally ill. The current review of the PACE Codes of Practice is seeking to strengthen further the protections for mentally ill detainees, particularly in terms of assessing their vulnerabilities and fitness for interview. In addition, the review of the Mental Health Act which is underway recognises that police cells are not generally appropriate places for assessing whether a person needs medical treatment.

Disorderly Conduct

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of disorderly conduct were reported in 1997 and each subsequent year in (a) Preston, (b) Blackburn, (c) Lancashire, (d) the North West, (e) Wales and (f) the UK.

John Denham: The Information requested is not available.

Crimes Against Tourists

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes against tourists in London have been reported in each of the last five years.

John Denham: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Police (East Midlands)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers serving in the (a) Leicestershire and (b) Nottinghamshire constabularies were previously employed in the Metropolitan Police.

John Denham: I am told by the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary (David Wyrko) that there are 65 officers in the force who previously served with the Metropolitan Police.
	I am told by the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire (Stephen Green) that information about the previous forces of officers who have joined on transfer is not routinely collated centrally. The force does, however, have a record that 12 officers transferred into the force from the Metropolitan Police in 2001–02.

Police Reform Bill

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the ACPO concerning the Police Reform Bill.

John Denham: We had extensive discussions with The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) when formulating the provisions of the Bill. Those discussions, have continued following the introduction of the Bill in another place.

Antisocial Behaviour

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities make use of mediation and restorative justice services in tackling antisocial behaviour.

John Denham: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prison Suicides

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners who have attempted suicide died whilst being transferred to hospital in the last three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people have (a) committed and (b) attempted suicide whilst in prison in the last five years; how many of these were on a life sentence; how many were in for more than 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The total number of self-inflicted prisoner deaths and reported incidents of self-harm in establishments in England and Wales are set out in the given tables.
	Information relating to the number of prisoners who have died whilst being transferred from prison establishment to hospital is not kept separately.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett), the Director General of the Prison Service (Martin Narey) and I take every self-inflicted death and incident of self-harm in prison custody very seriously.
	The Prison Service's new three-year suicide prevention strategy commenced in April 2001 and aims to make prisons safer for all who live and work there. There is an early focus on pilots in five establishments with a range of changes being made, including physical improvements to reception and induction areas, and more first night support centres and safer cells. Suicide Prevention Co-ordinators have been trained and appointed at 30 high-risk prisons, and revised risk assessment tools are being devised.
	The Prison Service's internal review into the prevention of suicides and self-harm found that those serving life sentences are at higher risk than those with determinate sentences. Research to find out at what stage in their period of custody life sentenced prisoners are most at risk, and how the self-inflicted deaths of life-sentenced prisoners differ to those in other sentence categories, is now being planned.
	1. Self-inflicted deaths at establishments in England and Wales 1998–2002
	
		
			 Year Number of Deaths Lifer Prisoners Already served 10 years or more 
		
		
			 1998 82 8 0 
			 1999 91 4 1 
			 2000 81 3 0 
			 2001 72 7 1 
			 2002 19 0 0 
			 Total 345 22 2 
		
	
	2. Self-harm incidents at establishments in England and Wales 1998–2002
	
		
			 Year Number of Incidents 
		
		
			 1998 3,207 
			 1999 3,721 
			 2000 5,227 
			 2001 7,486 
			 2002 2,119 
			 Total 21,760 
		
	
	 up to and including 08/04/02
	Notes:
	1. Not all self-inflicted deaths result in an inquest verdict of suicide.
	2. Data in above table include all attempted suicides. Self-harm incidents are not categorised by intent for data collection purposes or by prisoner status.
	3. Self-harm incidents do not equate to numbers of prisoners as an individual prisoner may self-harm more than once.

Professor Michael Barber

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the work of Professor Michael Barber in his role as advisor on crime;
	(2)  if Professor Michael Barber continues in his role as a Home Office advisor on crime; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  to which of his recent crime fighting initiatives Professor Michael Barber has contributed; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will place in the Library copies of the research undertaken by Professor Michael Barber in his capacity as the Government's adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: holding answer 19 April 2002
	Professor Michael Barber is head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit which is working closely with the Treasury and other Delivery Departments to ensure that the Government achieve their delivery priorities during this Parliament across the key areas of public service: health, education, crime, asylum and transport. He reports to my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister (Mr. Blair), and is not separately an adviser on crime.

Sentences (Drug Smuggling)

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum custodial sentence for the smuggling of (a) class A controlled substances, (b) class B controlled substances, (c) class C controlled substances, (d) alcohol and (e) tobacco.

David Blunkett: holding answer 19 April 2002
	The maximum custodial sentence for the smuggling of Class A controlled drugs is life imprisonment; that for smuggling of Class B controlled drugs is 14 years' imprisonment; that for smuggling Class C controlled drugs is five years' imprisonment. The maximum custodial sentence for the smuggling of alcohol and tobacco is also seven years' imprisonment.

Released Prisoners (Accommodation)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people aged under 18 have been released from prison with no fixed abode in each year since 1998; and from which prisons.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the accommodation of prisoners after release is not recorded centrally for all prisoners. However a survey of prisoners' resettlement has recently been carried out for the Prison Service. This involved interviews with a representative sample of about 2000 prisoners shortly before discharge. It will provide information about the proportion reporting in the last two-three weeks of sentence that they have no accommodation to go to on release. Results will be available shortly.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Geneva Conventions will be applied to prisoners captured by UK forces in Afghanistan; and whether such prisoners will be handed directly to US forces.

Geoff Hoon: The Geneva Conventions will be applied to prisoners captured by United Kingdom troops in Afghanistan. Any such prisoners would be handed to the Afghan Interim Authority.

Afghanistan

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) machine guns, (b) light machine guns and (c) assault rifles are in service with the Royal Marines deployed in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: 45 Commando Group Royal Marines is equipped with General Purpose Machine Guns and 50 Calibre machine guns. The Light Support Weapon and the Minimi provide their light machine gun capability.
	The SA80 A2 assault rifle is the standard individual weapon for the Royal Marines, although the Brigade Reconnaissance Force is equipped with M16 owing to its specialist role.

Radar

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the upgrading of the software of the radar in Fylingdales and Menwith Hill; how long it is expected to last; how much it is expected to cost; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: We have not received a request from the United States for assistance with the deployment of a missile defence system. It would be premature, therefore, to make an assessment of the work that might be required to upgrade the facilities at RAF Fylingdales or RAF Menwith Hill for missile defence purposes, and how long such work might take. The costs associated with any such upgrading would be first and foremost a matter for the United States.

Radar

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the proposed time scale is for a decision on the development of X-band radar in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: We have no indication of the timing of any possible requests from the United States to build an X-band radar in the UK, nor do we work on the assumption that such a radar would necessarily be sited in the UK. I cannot therefore give a timescale for any UK decisions which might be required.

BUPA Referrals

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been referred to BUPA consultants over the past two years; whether the number has increased over that time; and what the costs to the MoD were of those referrals.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 10 April 2002
	Referrals have been made to BUPA under centrally led initiatives by the Royal Navy, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency and the Defence Secondary Care Agency, and locally by RAF Units. Under these arrangements, some 3,000 referrals have been made to BUPA since April 2000 at cost to date of some £2.7 million. The number of referrals is evenly spread across the two financial years.

Unexploded Ordnance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much unexploded ordnance has been left on the ground following British Army training exercises in (a) Kenya and (b) in foreign countries other than Kenya, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 April 2002
	Wherever it trains, the British Army aims to destroy unexploded ammunition it uses as soon as possible after it has been fired—usually during the exercise itself. In Kenya, we also conduct an annual clearance exercise at the end of our exercise period in support of the Kenyan Authorities.
	Information about amounts of unexploded ordnance that may have been left on the ground following British Army training exercises is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Unexploded Ordnance

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much unexploded ordnance he estimates has been left by British forces in Kenya in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much unexploded ordnance he estimates has been left by British forces; how much money has been spent by the Ministry of Defence in clearing unexploded ordnance in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 April 2002
	Wherever they train, British Forces aim to destroy unexploded ammunition as soon as possible after it has been fired—usually during the exercise itself. In Kenya, we also conduct an annual clearance exercise at the end of our exercise period in support of the Kenyan Authorities.
	I have assumed that the hon. Member is seeking information about the amount of ordnance left unexploded following exercises by British Forces and the costs of clearing it, rather than operational deployments. These details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Blue Danube Atomic Bomb

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aspects of the Blue Danube atomic bomb continue to be covered by exemption 1 of the code of practice on access to Government information relating to defence, security and international relations.

Geoff Hoon: Certain specific aspects which might be of value to a potential nuclear weapons proliferator. For obvious reasons, it would not be appropriate to go into greater detail.

Computer Thefts

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 498W, on stolen equipment, if he will list the reported thefts and the related property code of (a) computer equipment and (b) computer data, indicating whether the property was recovered; which of those reported thefts are recorded as (i) no crime, (ii) closed detected and (iii) closed undetected; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Reported cases of stolen equipment are held centrally on a summary basis relating to suspected theft by Crown Personnel or contractors. Full details of computer property codes and recovery, including details related to computer data related to the suspected thefts identified in the answer on 31 January 2002, could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The same also applies in respect of outcomes recorded as no crime, closed detected, or closed undetected.

Gulf War

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Gulf War troops have been medically examined by the Medical Assessment Programme.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) was established in July 1993. Any Serviceman or Service woman, including those who have since left the UK armed forces, and Ministry of Defence civilians, who served in the Gulf at any time between August 1990 and July 1991, or who believe that their health has suffered as a direct result of the Gulf conflict can apply. Individuals who worked for contractors providing direct support to UK operations during the Gulf conflict may also be seen. All patients are seen following referral from their general practitioner or their armed forces medical officer. As at 19 April 2002, GVMAP consultants had physically examined 3,117 members and former members of the armed forces. This equates to 5.8 per cent of all UK armed forces deployed. Further information about the GVMAP can be obtained from my Department's web site: www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar or by telephoning Freephone 0800 169 5401.

Voluntary Sector (Funding)

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire of 25 January, Official Report, columns 1185–6W, on Government funding of the voluntary sector, if he will list the grant schemes and other mechanisms by which his Department distributes funding to voluntary sector organisations.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 19 April 2002
	Funding to voluntary sector organisations by the Ministry of Defence is effected via the provision of grants in aid. These are grants from voted monies to particular organisations or bodies, which may include, but are not restricted to, voluntary sector organisations. The list of organisations for Financial Year 2001–2002 is as follows:
	The Air Training Corps
	The Army Sports Control Board
	The Atlantic Council
	The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
	The Millennium String of Pearls
	The National Army Museum
	The Royal Air Force Museum
	The Royal Air Force Sports Board
	The Royal British Legion
	The Royal Hospital Chelsea
	The Royal Marines Museum
	The Royal Naval Museum
	The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum
	The Royal Navy Sports Board
	The Royal Navy Submarine Museum
	The Scott Polar Research Institute
	The Victoria and George Cross Association
	The Welfare Council

Aircraft

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by aircraft type, the Royal Navy's operational fleet; how many aircraft of each type are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 25 April 2002
	The numbers of aircraft in the RN operational fleet (which is entirely owned by the Department), listed by type as at 1 April 2002, are shown in the table below. The table includes those aircraft operated by Royal Navy personnel serving within Naval Air Squadrons within both Joint Force Harrier and the Joint Helicopter Command.
	
		
			 Type/Class Aircraft Type No 
		
		
			 Fixed Wing Sea Harrier F/A2 29 
			  Harrier T8 Trainers 4 
			  Hawk 12 
			  Jetstream 11 
			 Rotary wing Sea King 66 
			  Lynx 63 
			  Merlin 21 
			  Gazelle 8

Ships

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by ship type, the Royal Navy's operational fleet; how many ships of each type are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answers 25 April 2002
	The strength of the Royal Navy Fleet (which is entirely owned by the Ministry of Defence), by ship type, as at 1 April 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			 Type/Class No. Operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training No. Undergoing refit or held at a low level of readiness 
		
		
			 Submarines 
			 Trident 3 Vengeance, Victorious, Vigilant 1 Vanguard 
			 Fleet 6 Talent, Tireless, Torbay, Trafalgar, 
			 Triumph, Turbulent 1 Trenchant 
			  1 Splendid 4 Sceptre, Spartan, Sovereign, Superb 
			 Aircraft Carriers 2 Illustrious, Ark Royal 1 Invincible 
			 Landing Platform Dock 
			 Landing Platform Helicopter 1 Ocean   
			 Destroyers 
			 Type 42 8 Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, 
			 Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, 
			 Southampton, York 3 Liverpool, Gloucester, Manchester 
			 Frigates 
			 Type 23 13 Argyll, Grafton, Kent, Lancaster, 
			 Montrose, Northumberland, 
			 Norfolk, Portland, Richmond, St 
			 Albans, Somerset, Sutherland, 
			 Westminster 3 Iron Duke, Monmouth, 
			 Marlborough 
			 Type 22 5 Campbeltown, Chatham, Cornwall, 
			 Cumberland, Sheffield   
			 Offshore Patrol 
			 Castle Class 2 Leeds Castle, Dumbarton Castle   
			 Island Class 5 Alderney, Anglesey, Guernsey, 
			 Lindisfarne, Shetland   
			 Minehunters 
			 Hunt Class 11 Atherstone, Brecon, Brocklesby, 
			 Cattistock, Chiddingfold, 
			 Cottesmore, Dulverton, Hurworth, 
			 Ledbury, Middleton, Quorn   
			 Sandown Class 10 Bangor, Blyth, Bridport, Grimsby, 
			 Inverness, Pembroke, Penzance, 
			 Ramsey, Sandown, Walney 1 Shoreham 
			 Patrol Craft 
			 Coastal Training Craft 14 Archer, Biter, Blazer, Charger, 
			 Dasher, Example, Exploit, Explorer, 
			 Express, Puncher, Pursuer, Raider, 
			 Smiter, Tracker   
			 Gibraltar Search and Rescue Craft 2 Ranger, Trumpeter   
			 Ice Patrol Ship 1 Endurance   
			 Survey Ships 3 Gleaner, Roebuck, Scott   
		
	
	 As a result of the withdrawal from service of HMS FEARLESS announced on 7 March 2002 (Official Report, column 474W), there were no Landing Platform Docks in the strength of the Fleet as at 1 April 2002. However, two Landing Platform Dock replacements (HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK) are planned to enter service in 2003.

Conflict Expenditure

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on the conflicts that the UK has been involved in as combatants since 1972.

Geoff Hoon: This information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Missile Defence System

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the possible cost of a UK missile defence system; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: As we have not reached the stage of developing specific proposals regarding missile defence, a firm estimate of cost has not been made.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Post Office

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the post offices which are expected to be closed in the restructuring of Post Office Counters networks stating in each case (a) the number of redundancies expected in each case, (b) the cost to her Department of redundancy payments and (c) the expected savings to her Department from the closures broken down by (i) region and (ii) constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 15 April 2002
	The detailed implementation of the programme to restructure the urban post office network is an operational matter for Post Office Limited. The programme has not yet begun, but Government support of up to £210 million has been allocated to advance our aims for the urban network as set out in the PIU report.

Pubs (Guest Beers)

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the numbers of pubs hosting guest beers (a) voluntarily and (b) as a result of the Beer Orders.

Melanie Johnson: The 1989 Orders applied only to the then six large brewers owning tied estates of 2000 or more pubs. No such brewers exist any longer so the number of pubs selling guest beers as defined in the Beer Orders is now zero. So-called guest beers are sold on a voluntary basis and so cannot be estimated.

Micro-renewable Technologies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what policy measures, in addition to her Department's capital funding, have been introduced since 1997 to support the development of micro-renewable technologies in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: pursuant to the answer, 23 April 2002, Official Report, columns 214–15W
	Unfortunately an incomplete answer was given and herewith is the full text.
	In addition to the general support for renewables provided by the Renewables Obligation and Climate Change Levy exemption, there have been a number of initiatives aimed specifically to encourage smaller projects.
	In February, I launched the Community Renewables Initiative to encourage community-based renewable energy projects, many of which are likely to be small.
	The 1998 Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) Order included a small-scale wind energy band for projects up to 0.995 MW declared net capacity under which 36 contracts were approved.
	Small hydro stations up to 1.25 MW declared net capacity will be eligible for the Renewables Obligation without being required to refurbish.
	The £20 million photovoltaics (PV) programme which I announced on 26 March is entirely directed at projects no greater than 100 kWp, and includes a band for very small projects. Applications for individual systems of 0.5–5 kWp will be accepted from householders, schools, community groups and SMEs on a rolling basis and 50 per cent capital grants will be automatic provided that the basic programme criteria are met.
	Simplified connection guidelines for small PV generation have been made available as Engineering Recommendation G77 published by the Electricity Association.
	The Distributed Generation Co-ordination Group is addressing grid connection and related issues to ensure that smaller generators have fair access to the electricity market. One of its workstreams is specifically addressing microgeneration solutions.

Ministerial Visits (Business Contracts)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Ministers in her Department have visited other countries in support of firms seeking contracts in those countries, stating (a) each company, (b) each contract and (c) whether each bid was successful in each of the last three years.

Patricia Hewitt: Ministers take every opportunity on visits overseas to lobby in support of UK commercial interests generally and, where appropriate, in respect of specific contracts. Information is not, however, recorded centrally in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

EU Powers (Pay and Benefits)

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the European Union has the power to set the (a) pay and (b) benefit entitlements that must be offered by (i) public and (ii) private enterprises to their workforces.

Alan Johnson: Whether the European Union has the power to set these entitlements will depend on the nature of particular proposals that could have the effect of setting pay and benefits for certain individuals. Where the aim of EU legislation is to prevent discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability, this may affect the minimum levels of pay and other benefits that public and private sector enterprises must offer to some members of their workforces.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likely impact that the proposed European Directive on working conditions for temporary workers will have on the creation of new employment opportunities in the UK.

Alan Johnson: The Department's officials are preparing a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which will look at the possible costs and benefits of the Directive to workers, agencies and user companies in the UK. The RIA will be placed in the Libraries of House in due course.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what amendments she will be seeking to make to the proposed European Directive on working conditions for temporary workers.

Alan Johnson: The European Commission published a proposal for a directive on temporary agency workers in March 2002. We are currently studying the proposal to establish whether it protects agency workers without damaging the important contribution agency workers and agencies make to the labour market and to maintaining high levels of employment.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many temporary workers were, at the most recent date for which figures are available, fulfilling assignments in the public sector.

Alan Johnson: According to the Labour Force Survey, in Autumn 2001 there were 600,000 temporary employees in the public sector.
	The Labour Force Survey defines temporary employees as including individuals engaged on: employment business assignments, seasonal work, fixed term contracts, casual work and other non-permanent work.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has undertaken to assess the impact that the proposed European Directive on working conditions for temporary workers will have on the competitiveness of SMEs in the UK.

Alan Johnson: The Department's officials are preparing a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which will look at the possible costs and benefits of the Directive to workers, agencies and user companies in the UK including the impact on small businesses. The RIA will be placed in Libraries of the Houses in due course.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed in temporary work in the UK in (a) February 1992 and (b) February 2002.

Alan Johnson: (a) According to the Labour Force Survey, there were 1,150,000 temporary employees in the three months March–May 1992.
	The Labour Force Survey defines temporary employees as including individuals engaged on: employment business assignments, seasonal work, fixed term contracts, casual work and other non-permanent work.
	(b) According to the Labour Force Survey, there were 1,650,000 temporary employees in the three months December 2001–February 2002 (the latest data available).

Business Regulation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cost compliance assessments had been carried out by her Department before the introduction of additional regulations affecting businesses in each of the last three years.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 25 April 2002
	The Department is required to publish final Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for all regulations which have either imposed or reduced costs for business. The number of final RIAs the DTI has published in the last three years are as follows:
	1999 = 41
	2000 = 40
	2001 = 30

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by her Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's expenditure on newspapers and mass circulation magazines for the financial year 2001–2002 was £201,341.
	This includes expenditure on national newspapers, regional newspapers, and mass circulation magazines. A list of titles and the number of copies taken cannot be supplied except at disproportionate cost.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by her Department, stating for each subscription the (a) number of copies taken and (b) annual cost.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's expenditure on periodicals for the financial year 2001–2002 was £408,650
	This includes expenditure on general and academic periodicals, plus annual reference and statistical publications. Expenditure on mass circulation magazines is included in the answer to PQ No. 52819. A list of titles and the number of copies taken cannot be supplied except at disproportionate cost.

Websites

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the potential for confusion between the websites www.ukonline.gov.uk and www.ukonline.co.uk; and what discussions have been held with the proprietors of the private site to minimise this.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Discussions were held with UK Online the Internet Service Provider (ISP) about how to distinguish our respective sites. The presentation of the Government UK online site was modified to distinguish it from the ukonline.co.uk site and it was agreed that mutual links to each others' sites would be put in place.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

The Queen Mother

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost to public funds was of (a) official actions arising from the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother until the funeral and (b) the funeral.

Tessa Jowell: A number of organisations were involved in the preparations for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. They are now starting to settle bills and prepare detailed estimates. It is still too early to provide an estimate of the likely final cost of the funeral arrangements.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she determines whether a letter from (a) a member of the public and (b) an hon. Member receives a reply personally signed by (i) her, (ii) other Ministers in her Department and (iii) her officials.

Tessa Jowell: The decision as to who replies to correspondence is based on advice from officials. Of the 28,593 items of correspondence received by the Department in 2001–2002, all letters from honourable Members (18 per cent) received a reply from Ministers as did 8 per cent of the letters received from the general public.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) letters and faxes and (b) e-mails addressed to (i) her, (ii) other Ministers in her Department and (iii) officials her Department have received since 8 June 2001.

Tessa Jowell: In 2001–2002 the Department received 28,593 items of correspondence via letter, fax and email.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department takes into account the political party of hon. Members when answering (a) letters from and (b) written questions tabled by hon. Members.

Tessa Jowell: No.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have personally signed since 8 June 2001.

Tessa Jowell: Between 8 June 2001 and 27 March 2002 DCMS Ministers personally replied to 5,240 items of correspondence from hon. Members and the general public as follows;
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Secretary of State 673 
			 Minister for the Arts 673 
			 Minister for Sport 2,323 
			 Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting 1,571 
		
	
	This excludes letters originating from Ministers as these records are not collected centrally.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's targets are for the length of time taken from the receipt of a letter from (a) a member of the public and (b) an hon. Member to the sending of a reply; and if those targets have been met since 8 June 2001.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 576W and on 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 955W.

Ministerial Visits

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which constituencies (a) she and (b) other Ministers in her Department have visited since 8 June 2001.

Tessa Jowell: Ministers in DCMS have made a number of official visits since 8 June 2001 but the information you have requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. These visits allow Ministers to see developments in their sector at local and regional level at first hand and to demonstrate their support for such projects and initiatives.

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the method by which it is decided whether (a) she or (b) other Ministers in her Department answer oral questions in the House.

Tessa Jowell: Responsibility for answering oral Questions is initially allocated according to Ministerial responsibility with the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting answering on behalf of the Minster for the Arts. This is then adjusted to ensure an even spread of Questions between Ministers.

Ceremonial Occasions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the role of her Department in the (a) funding and (b) organisation of state and royal ceremonial occasions.

Tessa Jowell: My Department is responsible for providing and funding certain facilities for state and royal ceremonial occasions. They are:
	Inward State Visits—Erection of reception pavilions, flag poles and flying of flags in either London or Windsor depending on arrival arrangements.
	Remembrance Day—Erection of media stands, installation of public address system and marking out of standing positions around the Cenotaph.
	The Queen's Birthday Parade—Erection of flagpoles and flag flying down the Mall and along Horse Guards Approach Road.
	Flag Flying—Erection of flag poles and flying of flags around Parliament Square for Commonwealth Day, UN Day and Europe Day.
	Royal and State funerals—Responsibility for co-ordinating the multi-agency response to preparing the processional route and provision of media and public facilities.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff were seconded between (a) PWC Consulting and Pricewater- houseCoopers, (b) Ernst & Young, (c) Deloitte & Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) on 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1265W.

Press and Public Relations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the annual budget for communications activities, including press, public relations, marketing and internal communications, was for his Department for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor's Department's communications functions were incorporated into a new group in 1998. The full annual costs for arrangements for earlier FYs are no longer available. The annual budget since 1999–2000 for the LCD Communications Group, which serves LCD Headquarters; the Court Service; the Law Commission and the Official Solicitor's Office is listed below. These figures include salaries and other staff costs. The costs of any work done in other parts of the Department which contributed to communications objectives are not available.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2001 927,000 
			 2000–2002 1,081,000 (Plus funding of £4 million for a public information campaign on the introduction of the Community Legal Service). 
			 2001–2003 1,431,000 (Estimated to end of financial year). 
		
	
	During this period, the staff of Communications Group increased from 12 in 1998–1999 to 24 in 2001–2002 which reflects the increased responsibilities of the Lord Chancellor's Department including functions transferred from other Government departments, and the development of the LCD website team.

Special Advisers

Simon Burns: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many special advisers there were in his Department; and what their salaries were in each of the last five years.

Michael Wills: A Special Adviser was appointed on 5 March 1998. He was reappointed after the General Election in 2001. There are no other Special Advisers. The salary of Special Advisers was dealt with in the answer provided by the Prime Minister on 10 April 2002, column 11W.

Royal Peculiars

Frank Field: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will publish the response to the Review of Royal Peculiars.

Michael Wills: On current plans, the response to the Review of the Royal Peculiars will be published in October of this year.

Court Costs

Karen Buck: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost per day of a court case in (a) a Crown court and (b) a magistrates' court was over the last 12 months.

Michael Wills: The estimated average cost per day of a court case for the financial year 2001–2002 is (a) £2,975 in the Crown Court, and (b) £1610 in the magistrates' court. These figures exclude Legal Aid costs.

TREASURY

Volunteering

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the joint discussion document on fiscal and other changes to promote volunteering and community service will be published; and if it will then be subject to consulation.

Andrew Smith: The Government believes that voluntary and community service plays a key role in building strong and cohesive communities. As the Chancellor announced in Budget 2002, a joint discussion document by HM Treasury and the Home Office will be published later this year on how best we can promote and develop voluntary and community service.

Public Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the additional £1 billion that he is allocating to the NHS and other public services in 2002–03, referred to in the Official Report, 17 April 2002, column 590, will be spent in 2002–03.

Andrew Smith: Our projections assume that spending within Departmental Expenditure Limits will be fully spent in 2002–03.

Cancer Deaths

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths were caused by (a) lung cancer, (b) breast cancer, (c) skin cancer, (d) lower gastrointestinal cancer, (e) upper gastrointestinal cancer, (f) gynaecological cancers, (g) head and neck cancers and (h) all other cancers; and what percentage each of (a) to (h) represented of recorded cases of cancer in (A) St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority, (B) Merseyside, (C) Manchester, (D) the North West, (E) the South East and (F) England, in (1) 1991, (2) 1997, (3) 1998, (4) 1999, (5) 2000 and (6) 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward dated 25 April 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on cancer. (50503) Data for the number of recorded cases of cancer for the years 1999 to 2001 are not yet available. Data for 1998 have recently become available but have not yet been coded to geographical boundaries that would allow comparison with earlier years. Figures for 1991 and 1997 are presented in the table below.
	
		Numbers of deaths from selected cancers* and number of deaths from cancer as a percentage of cancers registered in the same year, for selected areas of England**, 1991 and 1997. -- Numbers of deaths
		
			 Area of usual residence Lung Breast Skin Lower Gastrointestinal Upper Gastrointestinal Gynaecological Head & Neck All other cancers 
		
		
			 1991 
			 St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority 274 74 6 112 96 49 13 329 
			 Merseyside Metropolitan County 1,383 342 30 551 467 232 71 1,552 
			 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 2,041 677 40 919 802 382 108 2,628 
			 North West Government Office Region 5,417 1,764 127 2,497 2,123 1,082 300 7,196 
			 South East Government Office Region 4,553 2,166 220 2,468 1,808 1,103 218 8,390 
			 England 32,124 12,979 1,090 15,813 12,756 7,045 1,603 50,785 
			 1997 
			 St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority 279 67 8 90 90 35 11 373 
			 Merseyside Metropolitan County 1,184 354 35 455 395 182 57 1,669 
			 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 1,753 536 60 792 698 321 90 2,640 
			 North West Government Office Region 4,704 1,552 146 2,193 1,889 894 261 7,421 
			 South East Government Office Region 3,956 1,794 310 2,263 1,706 1,115 246 8,646 
			 England 28,129 11,255 1,314 14,003 11,615 6,520 1,582 52,413 
		
	
	
		Deaths as a percentage of the number of cases of cancer registered in the same year
		
			 Area of usual residence Lung Breast Skin Lower Gastrointestinal Upper Gastrointestinal Gynaecological Head & Neck All other cancers 
		
		
			 1991 
			 St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority 90 38 50 62 95 51 36 72 
			 Merseyside Metropolitan County 97 38 35 63 86 55 50 65 
			 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 95 47 28 66 96 59 66 69 
			 North West Government Office Region 97 44 29 65 93 57 58 67 
			 South East Government Office Region 93 44 32 59 91 53 47 66 
			 England 94 45 31 62 89 55 52 66 
			 1997 
			 St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority 94 35 29 53 91 40 61 66 
			 Merseyside Metropolitan County 87 42 25 54 85 44 47 68 
			 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 87 34 28 51 79 45 36 61 
			 North West Government Office Region 87 37 23 53 82 46 44 63 
			 South East Government Office Region 89 31 31 48 83 52 42 59 
			 England 90 36 28 50 82 48 43 61 
		
	
	Deaths registered in 1991 and 1997, and cancers registered in 1991, selected using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision (ICD9) codes.
	Cancers registered in 1997 selected using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD10) codes.
	All boundaries as at 1 April 2001
	
		
			 Cancer ICD9 ICD10 
		
		
			 Lung 162.2 to 162.9 C340 to C349 
			 Breast 174.0 to 174.9 C500 to C509 
			 Skin 172.0 to 172.9 C430 to C439 
			 Lower Gastrointestinal 153.0 to 154.1 C180 to C219 
			 Upper Gastrointestinal 150.0 to 151.9 C150 to C169 
			 Gynaecological 179.0 to 184.9 C510 to C589 
			 Head & Neck 140.0 to 149.9 C000 to C149 
			 All other cancers 140.0 to 208.9 minus above and excluding 173 C000 to C979 minus above and excluding C440 to C449

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: Nothing.

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: Nothing.

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: Nothing.

Annuities

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the age rule affecting annuities.

Ruth Kelly: As the consultation document "Modernising Annuities" sets out, there are sound financial reasons for people to annuitise their retirement savings by age 75. So the Government does not propose to abolish the age 75 rule.
	The consultation, which ran until 5 April, was intended to stimulate discussion on annuity issues. The Government is now considering the responses carefully before deciding how to proceed.

Debt Management Office

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the UK Debt Management Office's targets and business plan for 2002–03.

Ruth Kelly: The DMO's targets for 2002–2003 are set out below, together with a brief commentary on last year's outturn in relation to the comparable target. The DMO is today also publishing its Business Plan for 2002–2003. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library. The DMO, with HM Treasury, will in due course be reviewing its planning objectives in the light of the decision that I announced on 25 March to integrate the National Debt Office (NDO) and the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB) into the DMO with effect from 1 July 2002. Targets for the Debt Management Office 2002–03
	1. To ensure full compliance with the Government's remit for the DMO as set out in the Debt and Reserves Management Report 2002–03, within the tolerances and subject to the review triggers notified separately to the Office and consistent with the objectives of monetary policy. [Target met in 2001–02]
	2. To ensure that the maximum time taken to issue the results of gilt auctions does not exceed 40 minutes, that for structured Treasury Bill tenders does not exceed 30 minutes, and that for ad hoc Treasury Bill or other tenders does not exceed 15 minutes, while achieving complete accuracy. [Target met in 2001–02]
	3. To achieve complete accuracy, within agreed accounting tolerances, in the recording and reporting of transactions through the Debt Management Account (DMA), and in delivering money (and reconciling payments) to the National Loans Fund (NLF) and to meet the statutory deadlines for publication or submission for audit of the annual accounts of the DMO Agency, and DMA. [First half of target met in 2001–02. The second half relating to timeliness of publication of accounts was also met].
	4. To acknowledge all letters and e-mail enquiries from the public within 5 working days and for at least 95 per cent to be sent a substantive reply within 2 weeks. [Target met in 2001–02]
	5. To achieve less than 6 breaches of the operational market notices (excluding any breaches that the Treasury accept were beyond control of the Office). [Equivalent target met in 2001–02]
	6. To ensure that the statutory constraint on DMO market borrowing (not to exceed its deposits with the NLF and Bank of England) is always met. [Target met in 2001–02]
	7. To ensure that, when there is a late change in the forecast, any necessary use of end-of-day borrowing or lending facilities is notified by the due time. [Target met in 2001–02]
	8. To ensure that instructions to counterparties, agents and external systems are complete, accurate and timely, and that monitoring of the progress of transactions through to settlement is effective, so that DMO achieves at least 99 per cent (by value) successful settlement of agreed trades on the due date. [Target met in 2001–02]
	To release all market sensitive data on announcements in a timely manner and to achieve no more than 10 factual errors in material published by the DMO, including on the web site (insofar as the material is under the control of the DMO and not third parties). [Equivalent target—which required complete accuracy covering also immaterial errors—not met in 2001–02. In particular on 14 March 2002 there was a premature release onto the web site of market sensitive information on the breakdown of planned gilt sales in 2002–03. The proposed target has been expanded to include timeliness of release allows for some but fewer errors than in 2001–02.]

EU Tariffs

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new tariffs the EU has imposed on imported goods in the past 10 years.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The Common Customs Tariff of the EU has over 10,400 tariff lines. Over the past ten years the EU has progressively reduced its tariffs in accordance with its GATT/WTO obligations. Over the same period for most tariff lines "preferential" (i.e. lower) rates have been charged on imports from a range of countries. In addition, on around 1000 tariff lines the EU has autonomously suspended duties on goods not produced or not available in sufficient quantity in the Community. As well as reducing tariffs, the EU has introduced anti-dumping or countervailing duties in response to unfair trade.
	Within this complex framework of multilateral obligations, preferential agreements, tariff nomenclature changes, autonomous suspensions and remedies to unfair trade, the EU has imposed and modified a wide range of duties.
	The detail of all these changes could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

WALES

Birth Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the rate of (a) infant mortality, (b) still births and (c) birth defects in (i) 1985, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1987 was for the old County of Clwyd.

Paul Murphy: The infant mortality rate (deaths of infants under one year of age, per 1,000 live births) was 10.9 per cent in 1985, 8.7 per cent in 1986 and 10.2 per cent in 1987 for the county of Clwyd.
	The still birth rates was 6.4 per cent in 1985, 5.3 per cent in 1986 and 5.0 per cent in 1987 for the county of Clwyd. These figures are based on still births of 28 or more complete weeks gestation per 1,000 births. The legal definition of a still birth was altered on 1 October 1992 to include babies born dead between 24 and 27 weeks.
	The babies notified to the National Congenital Anomaly System for mothers resident in the former Clwyd health authority was 20.5 per cent in 1985, 17.7 per cent in 1986 and 12.1 per cent in 1987, per 1,000 live and stillbirths. Reporting to this system is voluntary, and differences may reflect changes in reporting practice rather than true changes in prevalence.

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: It is not possible to say how much of this training related to leadership skills.
	My Department was created in July 1999. In 2000–01 it spent £2,400 on training and in 2001–02 £4,200. Comparable figures for 1999–00 are not available. My staff also receives training provided through the National Assembly for Wales for which there is no charge.

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: Since my Department came into existence on 1 July 1999 it has incurred no such expenditure.

Ministerial Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: Since my Department came into existence on 1 July 1999 it has incurred no such expenditure.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by his Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Paul Murphy: Currently, the Wales Office subscribes to the following newspapers—
	The Western Mail (Mon–Fri)—21 copies (22 on Monday)
	The Western Mail (Sat)—2 copies
	The Daily Post (Mon–Fri)—6 copies (7 on Monday)
	The South Wales Echo (Mon–Sat)—2 copies
	Wales on Sunday—2 copies
	South Wales Argus (Mon–Sat)—2 copies
	Wrexham Evening Leader (Mon–Sat)—2 copies
	South Wales Evening Post (Mon–Sat)—2 copies
	The Evening Standard (Mon–Fri)—4 copies
	The Guardian (Mon–Fri)—5 copies (6 on Monday)
	The Guardian (Sat)—1 copy
	The Times (Mon–Fri)—7 copies (8 on Monday)
	The Times (Sat)—1 copy
	The Daily Telegraph (Mon–Fri)—5 copies (6 on Monday)
	The Daily Telegraph (Sat)—1 copy
	The Independent (Mon–Fri)—6 copies (7 on Monday)
	The Independent (Sat)—1 copy
	The Financial Times (Mon–Fri)—6 copies (7 on Monday)
	The Financial Times (Sat)—1 copy
	The Daily Mail (Mon–Fri)—5 copies (6 on Monday)
	The Daily Mail (Sat)—1 copy
	The Daily Express (Mon–Fri)—5 copies (6 on Monday)
	The Daily Express (Sat)—1 copy
	The Daily Mirror—incl. Welsh edition—(Mon–Fri)—7 copies
	(8 on Monday)
	The Daily Mirror (Sat)—1 copy
	The Sun (Mon–Fri)—5 copies (6 on Monday)
	The Sun (Sat)—1 copy
	The Daily Star (Mon–Fri)—1 copy
	The Daily Star (Sat)—1 copy
	The Scotsman (Mon–Sat)—1 copy
	The Glasgow Herald (Mon–Sat)—1 copy
	The Daily Record (Mon–Sat)—1 copy
	The Observer—1 copy
	The Sunday Times—1 copy
	The Sunday Telegraph—1 copy
	The Independent on Sunday—1 copy
	The Mail on Sunday—1 copy
	The Sunday Express—1 copy
	The Sunday Mirror—1 copy
	The News of the World—1 copy
	The Sunday People—1 copy
	The Scotland on Sunday—1 copy
	The Sunday Herald—1 copy
	Many newspapers are cancelled over periods of recess, depending on staff and Ministerial presence in the London and Cardiff offices. It would prove disproportionately expensive to provide local figures on cost per title and due to the irregular nature of cancellation periods those figures would anyway provide an inaccurate picture of departmental spending.
	The overall cost of newspapers to the Wales Office in the last invoiced month, February 2002, was £916.06.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by his Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office has annual subscriptions to the House magazine (1 copy)—£345; the Parliamentary Monitor (1 copy)—£310; Private Eye (1 copy)—£19; The Spectator (1 copy)—£97; The New Statesman (1 copy)—£100.

Digital Equipment

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was.

Mr. Murphy: None

Hospitality Budget

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the purpose and dates of the events paid for through the hospitality budget in the previous 12 months.

Paul Murphy: I have hosted a small number of receptions to mark St Davids Day and key parliamentary occasions. Members of both Houses from all parties and journalists have attended, including the hon. Member.
	I believe these have been valuable events enabling parliamentarians from all parties to mix informally and exchange views and opinions.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-Departmental premises in each of the last four years giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each.

Elliot Morley: As DEFRA was created in June 2001 retrospective annual budget analysis is not possible.
	Our records show that there were 66 events commissioned centrally by DEFRA at a cost of £491,941. A list of these events is attached.
	This figure does not include any expenditure for Foot and Mouth Disease, non-Departmental Public Bodies, Agencies or de-centralised expenditure within DEFRA. Further extrapolation of expenditure on these events would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 No. Title Description Date Location 
		
		
			 1 Brockhole Centre Exhibition 2001–2002 Cumbria 
			 1 FMD Information Unit 18–19/06/01 N. Yorkshire 
			 1 BBC Gardeners World Live Show 13–17/06/01 NEC Birmingham 
			 1 FMD Information Unit 18–19/06/01 N. Yorkshire 
			 1 Hampton Court Palace Show 3–8/07/01 Hampton Court 
			 1 Developing DEFRA Conference 11/07/2001 London 
			 1 Tatton Park Show 18–22/07/01 Tatton Park 
			 1 CLA Game Fair Show 27–30/0701 Shuttleworth 
			 1 Fruit Focus Show 01/08/2001 East Malling 
			 1 FMD Information Unit 02/08/2001 Warwick University 
			 1 Devon County Show Show 9–11/08/01 Exeter 
			 1 Town & Country Festival Show 22–25/08/01 NEC Birmingham 
			 18 FMD Recovery Seminars 2001 Various Locations 
			 1 Royal Cornwall Show Show 13–15/09/01 Wadebridge Cornwall 
			 1 Beef 2001 Conference 14/09/2001 Cirencester 
			 1 SEAC Open Meeting Conference 18/09/2001 London 
			 1 European Dairy Farming Conference 19/09/2001 NAC, Coventry 
			 1 Developing DEFRA Conference 20/09/2001 Birmingham 
			 1 National Energy Crops Conference 27/09/2001 London 
			 1 Bath & West Dairy Show Show 03/10/2001 Shepton Mallet 
			 1 Careers Fair Exhibition 26–27/10/01 London 
			 1 Food & Farming Conference 10/11/2001 Oxford 
			 1 Map Launch with Countryside Agency Show 11/11/2001 London 
			 1 Careers Fair Exhibition 13/11/2001 London 
			 1 Waste Seminar Seminar 21/11/2001 London 
			 1 Supreme Car Show Show 31/11/01 London 
			 1 Agrivision Show 5–6/12/01 NAC, Coventry 
			 1 National Cat Club Show Show 08/12/2001 London 
			 1 Golden Rules Seminar Seminar 12/12/2001 Kendal 
			 1 Horizon Scanning Press Briefing 11/01/2002 London 
			 1 Planning & Diversification Seminar 15/01/2002 Wye College 
			 1 Public Appointments Seminar Seminar 21/01/2002 Abingdon 
			 1 Planning & Diversification Seminar 22/01/2002 Bucks/Berks & Oxf 
			 1 Agrivision Cornwall RCAA Show 23/01/2002 Wadebridge Cornwall 
			 1 English Rural Development Programme Seminar 23/01/2002 Ardingley 
			 1 Planning & Diversification Seminar 24/01/2002 Sparsholt College, Hants 
			 1 English Rural Development Programme Seminar 30/01/2002 Devon 
			 1 Public Appointments Seminar Seminar 07/02/2002 Norwich 
			 1 Anti-Microbial Resistance Seminar 12/02/2002 NAC, Coventry 
			 1 ESC Study Group Meeting Conference 14/02/2002 London 
			 1 Agrivision South of England Agr. Society Show 21/02/2002 Ardingley 
			 1 Crufts Dogs Show Show 07/03/2002 NEC Birmingham 
			 1 Daily Mail Ideal Home Show Show 07/03–01/04/02 London 
			 1 Public Appointments Seminar Seminar 20/03/2002 Nottingham 
			 1 Careers Seminar Seminar 20/03/2002 Bromsgrove School 
			 1 TSE Research Workshop Workshop 20–22/03/02 Durham University 
			 1 English Rural Development Programme Seminar 21/03/2002 Bewl Water 
			 1 Brockhole Centre Exhibition 23/03/2002 Cumbria 
			 1 English Rural Development Programme Seminar 28/03/2002 Reading

Legal Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what legal costs have been incurred by her Department in each of the last four years.

Elliot Morley: MAFF/DEFRA Legal Expenses for Financial Years were recorded as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–1999 714,705 
			 1999–2000 729,829 
			 2000–2001 586,597 
			 2001–2002 722,113 (subject to year-end adjustments)

Correspondence

James Cran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when a substantive reply will be given to Mr. B. Jull's letter of 1 October 2001, concerning non-bovine waste;
	(2)  when she will reply to the letter of 1 October 2001 from Mrs. B Jull and subsequent correspondence of 7 February and 17 February.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 April 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 21 April. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes dated 25 September 2001 concerning Mrs. M. F. Hutchinson of Rattery, Devon and legislation for Sellafield.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 March 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 18 April. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Rio Earth Summit (Implementation)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to (a) set goals on environmental protection and (b) improve eco-efficiency and resource productivity relating to ocean and sea issues; and what these (i) goals and (ii) improvements have been.

Michael Meacher: The OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the North East Atlantic came into force in 1998. The contracting parties have agreed strategies and goals in five areas: the protection and conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity; hazardous substances; radioactive substances; eutrophication; and offshore oil and gas. The United Kingdom played a full part in developing the strategies. The Quality Status Report published by OSPAR in 2000 highlights progress made and future challenges.
	The Marine Stewardship Report, to be launched on 1 May 2002, highlights past achievements and new initiatives relating to our policy on promoting sustainable development of the marine environment. Furthermore, oceans and seas will be a priority issue for the UK at the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Criminal Damage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last four years.

Elliot Morley: The cost of criminal damage to buildings used by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (and before 8 June 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) over each of the past four years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–1999 2,500 
			 1999–2000 11,250 
			 2000–2001 1,800 
			 2001–2002 4,200 
		
	
	The figures above ignore damage or mess which was repaired or cleaned by facility management contractors at no extra cost to the Department.

Ham Fen Beaver Project

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the animals involved in the Ham Fen Beaver Project have died; and what information her Department has collated on the causes of death.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 21 March 2002
	I understand from the Kent Wildlife Trust that two of the beavers in their care have died. The Department does not collect information on the causes of death of animals, other than cats and dogs, once rabies has been ruled out.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the average cost is per household treated of administering the Warm Front Scheme, incurred by each of the two scheme managers appointed for England, excluding the cost of the actual measures carried out;
	(2)  what the average cost was per household treated of administering the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Michael Meacher: The Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), now marketed as The Warm Front Team.
	The New HEES was launched on 1st June 2000, replacing the more basic scheme that had operated since 1991. The Scheme is administered by two scheme managers, TXU Warm Front Limited (Eastern, East Midlands & Yorkshire and the Humber) and Eaga Partnership Limited (the rest of England).
	The original scheme provided low income and disabled households with a single main insulation improvement, or a combination of smaller measures, mainly in the social housing sector. The new Scheme provides packages of insulation and heating measures, linked to the condition of the property and the householder's needs and is focussed on the private sector. To provide these packages the grant maximum was increased from £315 to £2,500 in the case of low-income households aged 60 years or more.
	Under the original. Scheme, the role of the scheme manager was relatively limited. Their main role was the management and payment of appointed installers. The average management cost per household was £15 excluding recoverable VAT.
	The current Scheme introduced a significant shift in the role and responsibilities of the scheme managers. They are now responsible for marketing the scheme, the set up and maintenance of local referral networks, carrying out independent surveys of properties, providing householders with energy efficiency advice, advising and agreeing the most appropriate measures for properties, recruiting and managing heating and insulation contractors through open competition, and managing payments to contractors for work completed. This additional work has increased the average administration cost to £77 for EAGA and £86 for TXU per household excluding recoverable VAT. These costs exclude one-off start-up costs paid by the Department.
	In the current scheme, the average cost for HEES installers has reduced to reflect the shift of responsibility for activities outlined above.

Coastline

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many schemes for managed realignment of the coastline have been approved for England and Wales since 1995; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: This Department has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in England. Several schemes for managed realignment of the coastline have been undertaken since 1995 with some not requiring DEFRA approval when funding was not being sought. The Department is aware of the following schemes:
	
		
			 Scheme Led by 
		
		
			 Tollesbury, Essex Environment Agency 
			 Orplands, Essex Environment Agency 
			 Brancaster, Norfolk Environment Agency 
			 Freiston, The Wash Environment Agency 
			 Saltram, Devon Environment Agency 
			 Porlock, Somerset Environment Agency 
			 Thorngumbald, Humber Estuary Environment Agency 
			 Havergate Island, Suffolk Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 
			 Thornham Bay, Chichester Harbour Private landowners 
			 Brean, Somerset Wessex Water, National 
			  Trust and Avon Wildlife 
			  Trust

Coastline

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1190W, to the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) if she will break down the CAP information shown by county in England and Wales.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is held on legacy systems which are neither flexible nor user friendly. A county breakdown is available for SCPS, BSPS, SPS, VCSPS, SAP & HFA schemes at the time of interrogation and is available in the Library of the House. It is not available for EPS. New flexible systems are being developed as part of the Rural Payment Agency change programme which should provide a range of statistical interrogation functions.

Dairy Industry

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent change in the farmgate price of milk on the future viability of dairy farming; and what recent representations she has received from the dairy industry regarding agrimonetary compensation available to dairy farmers.

Elliot Morley: This year has witnessed considerable pressure on the farmgate price of milk, due in a large part to weak international markets for dairy commodities and to high current levels of domestic milk production. Official figures show that in February the average farmgate price of milk had fallen to 18.33 pence per litre. I am aware that some purchasers have recently announced more price cuts that are not yet reflected in official figures and which will further depress the average farmgate price of milk.
	It is unlikely that prices at these levels are sustainable in the long term under the current milk regime and there are some potentially hopeful signs on world markets. The USA has recently exhausted its GATT commitment for subsidised exports of skimmed milk powders, while substantial quantities of New Zealand milk powders have already been sold. Furthermore, the EU has taken action—strongly supported by the UK—to assist dairy exports. We may therefore see some recovery in international markets that could ease pressure on domestic farmgate prices.
	On 16 April, the National Farmers Union wrote to Lord Whitty, the Minister for Food, Farming and Waterways, presenting their case for further agrimonetary compensation for dairy farmers.

Wildlife Crime

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in implementing the recommendations in the report on Wildlife Crime in the UK October 2001, conducted by Wolverhampton University and commissioned by her Department.

Michael Meacher: We commissioned this research on behalf of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, to support its work in developing proposals for the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit.
	The report's recommendations made a valuable contribution to this process, and I was delighted to be able to launch the Unit on 22 April.
	Many of the recommendations have already been wholly or partly implemented. The others will be considered as the Unit settles into its new role. The wider recommendations will be considered by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime.

Nitrate-vulnerable Zones

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received concerning the cost to pig producers of the Government's nitrate vulnerable zone proposals.

Michael Meacher: The National Pig Association (NPA) has made representations to the Government about the cost to pig farmers of the Government's proposals for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. It drew particular attention to the greater difficulty that pig farmers will encounter with the export of surplus manures to neighbouring farms in the proposed, larger, new zones. The Government has considered this representation and proposes to increase the cost assessment in recognition of the need for additional slurry storage capacity to provide more flexibility with the management of exported manures on pig farms.
	The NPA urged the Government to introduce a grant scheme to assist farmers to adapt their manure storage facilities to the meet the standards required by the NVZ Regulations. The Government expects to extend the existing Farm Waste Grant Scheme to the new zones when they are designated.
	The NPA also argued that the cost assessment for the keeping of additional records should be increased. The Government is not proposing to make changes to the record-keeping component of its cost assessment, which is based on an estimate of the average cost across all farmers affected. We recognise that within this average the costs that individual farmers face will vary depending on the nature and scale of their operations.
	The National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association have also made representations to Government about the compliance costs to farmers, including pig farmers.
	We will publish a revised compliance cost assessment in due course, when regulations are made to implement the Nitrates Directive.

Nitrate-vulnerable Zones

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the financial cost to farmers of the extension of nitrate-vulnerable zones.

Michael Meacher: The Department's consultation document issued in December 2001 outlines relative costs to farmers of two options for completing implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England.
	Total annual costs to English farmers are:
	Option 1 (whole of England approach)—£32million.
	Option 2 (targeted NVZ approach)—£23million.
	We are currently considering these figures in the light of responses to our recent consultation. We will publish a revised Regulatory Impact Assessment, containing updated compliance costs, in due course when we are in a position to announce a decision on how the Directive is to be implemented.

Nitrate-vulnerable Zones

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent her Department proposes to extend nitrate-vulnerable zones.

Michael Meacher: The Department is currently considering options for completing implementation of the Nitrates Directive in the light of responses to our recent public consultation. I expect to be able to announce a decision in May.

Agriculture Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 22 April; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture Council in Luxembourg on 22 April. The Scottish Minister for Environment and Rural Development also attended.
	The Presidency introduced two memoranda of its own: one on improving the contribution of women to rural development; another on the EU Veterinary Fund. Both will be discussed further at official level.
	The Commission gave an update on the BSE situation and introduced a proposal to tighten controls on additives in animal feed and water.
	The Council had a further discussion of a proposal on the animal health requirements that apply to the non-commercial movement of pets. Good progress was made and the Presidency hopes to secure agreement at the June Council.
	Under other business, the Italians drew attention to the position of young farmers; Greece queried Argentinean measures against exports of tinned peaches; and the Netherlands sought a common approach to the treatment of Chinese imports that fail to satisfy EU import rules.

Indigenous Forest

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how the area of each of the UK's old-growth indigenous forest has changed in each decade since 1972;
	(2)  what steps her Department has taken to prevent illegal logging of old-growth indigenous forest within the United Kingdom;
	(3)  what areas of old-growth indigenous forest remain within the UK; and what levels of protection is given to each area;
	(4)  what logging has occurred within the UK's old-growth indigenous forest in each year since 1992;
	(5)  what the total area of old-growth indigenous forest is within the UK; and what the total area was at the start of each decade since 1972.

Elliot Morley: In the UK, separate statistics are not held for "old-growth indigenous forest", for which there is no agreed definition. A number of measures are in place to protect all forests in the UK, including ancient semi-natural woodlands, where the biodiversity and cultural heritage values are highest. In particular, the felling of any type of woodland is controlled through felling regulations. Additionally, many woodlands are subject to further controls because they are within designated areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Special Areas of Conservation.

Muck Storage

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the average cost to (a) pig farmers and (b) dairy farmers of muck storage in the last 12 months.

Michael Meacher: Data from the recently published 2001 Farm Practices Survey indicates that 50 to 80 per cent of slurry stores were built before 1991. Generally, farmyard manure is usually stored in the field or on a concrete base. Therefore in most cases the annual cost of storage consists only of repair and maintenance costs that are likely to be a few hundred pounds. Further estimates could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.

Photovoltaic Energy

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to utilise photovoltaic energy production technology on the Government Estate; and when these plans will be implemented.

Michael Meacher: All Government departments have a target to ensure that by 31 March 2003, at least 5 per cent of their electricity comes from renewable sources, or from self-generation, provided this does not entail excessive cost. They also have a longer-term target for at least 10 per cent of their supply by 31 March 2008, which is subject to review after March 2003.
	Photovoltaic energy is just one of the renewable technologies that can help departments meet this target. It will be for each to determine the extent to which self-generation is a practicable and cost-effective option.
	I am not aware of any current plans to utilise photovoltaic energy production technology on any significant scale on the Government Estate, although a number of small-scale pilots are planned. There are, however, active and passive solar thermal systems in use in both this Department and Ministry of Defence and a number of other departments are considering their introduction.

Energy Efficiency

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on what has been done to promote energy efficiency since 1997.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 24 April 2002
	The Government has introduced a wide range of measures, including market incentives, financial assistance, legal obligations, and guidance and information, to promote energy efficiency. These include:
	The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) on domestic energy supplies, from 2002 to 2005
	The Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreements
	The UK Emissions Trading Scheme
	The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES)
	Revised Building Regulations which require high energy efficiency standards
	The Market Transformation Programme
	A wide range of measures to support Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
	The Community Energy capital grant programme
	Substantial Government funding of the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust to promote and support energy efficiency in the domestic, public, industry and business sectors.
	The majority of DEFRA's financial support for energy efficiency measures is channelled through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (now marketed as Warm Front), the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust. The total funding made available by my Department and its predecessors to support and promote these efficiency programmes in each year since 1997 is set out below:
	
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Total funding for energy efficiency £110.5m £109.0m £112.0m £163.5m £224m* 
		
	
	* Includes funding for the Carbon Trust of £26.5 million from recycled Climate Change Levy receipts.

International Animal Trade

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will appoint the DTLR In House Consultancy Unit to review her Department's procedures for the licensing of international trade in animals.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 25 April 2002
	As a result of the creation of this Department in June 2001, several different licensing regimes affecting wildlife were brought into the one Department. We therefore commissioned the DTLR In House Consultancy Unit to produce an overview, and make recommendations about improved customer service in those areas. This study is on-going and encompasses all aspects of wildlife licensing, including the international trade in wild animals.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the National Farmers Union on the subject of bovine TB.

Elliot Morley: I met the Vice President of the National Farmers Union on Wednesday 24 April to discuss ways forward on bovine TB. Topics included clearing the backlog of TB tests, possible practical measures to manage the risk of bovine TB, and how the economic impact of control measures might be reduced.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made on measures to deal with bovine TB, with specific reference to (a) vaccination, (b) husbandry and (c) genetic testing and evolution.

Elliot Morley: The Government has, with advice from the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), put in place a wide-ranging research programme into bovine TB. The programme is described in the ISG's reports which are available on DEFRA's website at http://defraweb/animalh/tb/. £1.4m is being spent annually on vaccine research and although the sequencing of the M. bovis genome announced recently is an important step forward, the ISG has cautioned that it is likely to be 10 years or so before a successful vaccine is found. On husbandry issues, a vital element of the research programme is an epidemiological questionnaire (TB99) which will give an insight into risk factors associated with husbandry practice and biosecurity. The research programme includes projects on genome sequencing postgenomics and genotyping of M. bovis.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government advice offered to dairy farmers on the subject of bovine TB.

Elliot Morley: In October 2001 the Chief Veterinary Officer wrote to all cattle keepers enclosing copies of leaflets entitled, TB in cattle reducing the risk and Golden Rules for a healthy herd. The second contains general advice on disease risk assessment when bringing cattle into the herd. Specific advice has been given to all veterinary practices on herd health following the foot and mouth outbreak.

Graffiti

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce graffiti; and if she will make a statement.

John Denham: I have been asked to reply.
	Writing graffiti will normally constitute an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Where criminal proceedings are not appropriate, it can also be dealt with through a number of measures designed to address anti-social behaviour, including anti-social behaviour orders. Our neighbourhood wardens programme and proposals for community safety officers will help to reduce yobbish behaviour, such as graffiti writing, in our neighbourhoods. We are also providing support through the Youth Justice Board for a range of projects to combat the problem of youth crime, including graffiti.

HEALTH

Children's Diet

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in England he estimates have a poor diet.

Yvette Cooper: Government surveys show that the majority of children consume diets which contain enough calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to meet their requirements. However, there are concerns about the balance and variety of foods in children's diets.
	Around 14 per cent of children's average energy (calorie) intake comes from saturated fat (compared to 11 per cent recommended), around 17 per cent of children's average energy intake comes from added sugars (compared to 10 per cent recommended) and average intakes of salt are up to twice the recommended amount. The percentage of children meeting current dietary recommendations varies by age. However, only around 15 per cent of all children meet the recommendations for added sugars, around 8 per cent meet the recommendations for saturated fat and around 42 per cent meet the recommendations for total fat.
	Intakes of fruit and vegetables are particularly low—average intake is only 2 portions per day and one in five 4 to 6 year olds eat no fruit at all in a week. There are also concerns about differences in diet between social groups. For example, children from the lowest social group tend to eat 50 per cent less fruit and vegetables than those from the highest social group.
	Further details on food consumption patterns and levels of individual nutrient intakes can be found in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for young people aged 4 to 18 years, which has been placed in the Library.

Food Standards Agency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what baseline was established during 2000–01 for monitoring the Service Delivery Agreement target specified on Page 27 of the 2001 report of the Food Standards Agency to reduce foodborne illness by 20 per cent over the next five years.

Yvette Cooper: The baseline established for monitoring the target of reducing foodborne illness by 20 per cent by April 2006 was announce by the Food Standards Agency on 23 August 2001. It is based on UK laboratory reports of the five major foodborne bacteria, excluding cases reported to have been acquired abroad. The baseline figure for the 5-year period, starting 1 April 2001, is 65,209.

Food Standards Agency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Service Delivery Agreement target of the Food Standards Agency to develop policy on the nutritional quality of foods and diets and their effect on public health, especially amongst disadvantaged groups, has been met.

Yvette Cooper: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) published its strategic framework on nutrition in March 2001 and its nutrition action plan in December 2001. Copies have been placed the Library. These documents set out the work programme the FSA has in hand on diet and health issues, including that related to disadvantaged groups.

Food Standards Agency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the quantitive consumer market research carried out by the Food Standards Agency to identify measures to assess changes in consumer attitudes on food safety and standards.

Yvette Cooper: As part of its commitment to putting the consumer first, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) conducts an annual survey of consumer attitudes to food safety and food standards issues. This survey provides valuable information about consumer attitudes, behaviours and preferences which is used to inform Agency priorities and activities. It also tracks awareness and confidence in the Agency itself.

Food Standards Agency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Food Standards Agency has fulfilled its Service Delivery Agreement to establish a system for post hoc audits of major food incidents involving relevant services.

Yvette Cooper: A system of reviews of major food incidents is in place and in addition to internal review meetings a stakeholder workshop was held during 2001 to consider the co-ordination of food incident handling with key stakeholders.

Caffeinated Energy Drinks

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department and its agencies have consulted other Governmental health agencies on the safety of caffeinated energy drinks; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Following concern from a number of European countries over the possible adverse effects of energy drinks, the EU Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) assessed the available scientific information and published an initial opinion on the safety of the ingredients normally associated with these drinks in 1999. That opinion called for additional data, which the SCF is due to assess later this year. The Food Standards Agency liaises with this Committee, as do the Governmental health agencies of other EU countries.

Caffeinated Energy Drinks

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he plans to issue a statement on the effects of caffeinated energy drinks on children; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he plans to issue a statement on the effects of caffeinated energy drinks when combined with alcohol; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he plans to issue a statement on the effects of caffeinated energy drinks when consumed prior to exercising; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The safety of high caffeine drinks, often termed "energy drinks" is currently being assessed at European level and new data, including that on possible interactions with alcohol, are being reviewed by the EU Scientific Committee on Food, which is expected to complete its assessment later this year. In the meantime, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised that, based on the available evidence, moderate consumption of stimulant drinks by adults is not a cause for concern.
	A can of energy drink contains about the same quantity of caffeine as a cup of coffee. The FSA advises that stimulant drinks and other foods containing significant amounts of caffeine should be consumed in moderation by pregnant women and may be unsuitable for those sensitive to the effects of caffeine, including children who are not regular consumers of tea and coffee.
	The FSA advises that these drinks are not suitable for use as rehydration agents following sport or other strenuous activities. Moderate consumption of these drinks prior to exercise is not a cause for concern, based on the available evidence.

Caffeinated Energy Drinks

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what upper safe levels for daily intake of (a) taurine and (b) glucuronolactone have been established by the department; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Department and the Food Standards Agency have not established upper safe levels for these substances. The European Union Scientific Committee on Food concluded in 1999 that further studies would be required in order to be able to establish upper safe levels for daily intake of taurine and glucuronolactone.

Caffeinated Energy Drinks

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research his Department and its agencies have conducted into the effects of caffeinated energy drinks consumed prior to exercising, on the human body; what the findings of the research were; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research his Department and its agencies have conducted into the effects of combining caffeinated energy drinks with alcohol on the human body; what the findings of the research was were; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what research his Department and its agencies have conducted into the effects of (a) taurine, (b) glucuronolactone, (c) caffeine and (d) a combination of taurine, glucuronolactone and caffeine, on the human body; what the findings of the research were; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what research his Department and its agencies have conducted into the effects of caffeine on children; what the findings of the research were; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a call for research on the effects of caffeine consumption during pregnancy. The results of any research commissioned as a result of this call are not expected to be available until 2005. The Department and the FSA have not commissioned any research in the other areas mentioned above.

Marfan Syndrome

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the number of people suffering from Marfan syndrome;
	(2)  how many patients were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome in each of the last 10 years for which records are available.

Yvette Cooper: Information about the numbers suffering from, and diagnosed with, Marfan's syndrome is not available in the form requested. Our statistics show that between 1995–96 and 2000–01, there were 707 admissions to National Health Service Hospitals for Marfan's syndrome.
	The UK Marfan Association estimates that the incidence of this disease is approximately 1 in 5000 of the population.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private finance initiative projects have been subject to refinancing after the contracts have been signed; and what has been the financial effect in each case.

John Hutton: None of the 23 major PFI schemes which have reached financial close to date have been subject to refinancing after the contracts have been signed.

Scanners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the purchase of new CT scanners.

Yvette Cooper: The NHS Cancer Plan provided details of diagnostic equipment to be purchased for the NHS. This included a commitment to 200 new Computed Tomography scanners by 2004.
	Programmes to deliver this commitment are well underway and by 17 April 2002, 84 Computed Tomography scanners had already been delivered to the NHS through central programmes. This means that, in total, approximately 41 per cent of CT scanners now in use in the NHS are new since January 2000. Programmes to deliver the remaining equipment are on-target to meet the 2004 deadline.

Scanners

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the capital and annual revenue costs of (a) a CT scanner and (b) an MRI scanner; what the annual repair costs are on average for each type of scanner; how much down-time following breakdowns are experienced on average by each type of scanner; and what his estimate is of the number of such scanners in the non-NHS health sector.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 16 April 2002
	The capital cost of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners will vary according to the exact specification of the equipment. Annual revenue costs will also vary dependent on age and specification of the equipment, staffing levels and workload and casemix at the particular hospital. The following costs are provided for guidance:
	The current list price of a well-specified (a) CT scanner is approximately £0.5 million and (b) MRI scanner is approximately £1 million. These costs are not inclusive of value added tax or any necessary installation or building works.
	Annual revenue costs will incorporate both pay and non-pay costs, such as maintenance, film, drugs or contrast agent. Total revenue costs will therefore vary according to staff numbers, scanner activity and type of maintenance contract. However, the average total annual revenue cost for both (a) CT and (b) MRI scanners could be estimated at £0.3–£0.4 million.
	The majority of hospitals elect to take out a fully comprehensive maintenance contract for both CT and MRI scanners. The cost of all servicing and repairs is included within a fully comprehensive annual maintenance contract, which costs approximately (a) £50,000 for a CT scanner and (b) £70,000 for a MRI scanner.
	Under a fully comprehensive maintenance contract, a supplier of CT or MRI scanners will usually quote an uptime guarantee for new equipment of 98 per cent. This means that the supplier is confident that there will be no more than 2 per cent unplanned downtime, which would roughly equate to 5–6 days per year. Older equipment may have greater servicing requirements and the cost of a maintenance contract with a 98 per cent guarantee could be significantly more expensive. In this case, other contracts, with a lesser percentage guarantee are available at reduced cost. In every case, there are financial penalties to suppliers if they do not meet their uptime guarantee.
	It is estimated that there are approximately (a) 40 CT scanners and (b) 60 MRI scanners installed in the non-National Health Service sector in England. It is difficult to provide accurate figures in this respect since private healthcare providers are not required to submit details about facilities or workload to the Department.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority did not publish an annual report in 2001.

Yvette Cooper: The report is being prepared and we expect it to be published shortly.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licences for donor insemination for (a) single women and (b) lesbians have been issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in each year since it was established.

Yvette Cooper: The treatment licences issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority do not specify who should receive treatment. Licensed centres are required in law to take account of the welfare of any child born as a result of treatment, including the need of that child for a father.

MRSA

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to tackle MRSA; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr. Loughton) on 15 April, Official Report, column 792W.

Vaccinations

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the possible positive impact of pneumococcal vaccinations for the over-65s;
	(2)  what plans he has to introduce a 65 years and over age recommendation for pneumococcal vaccinations.

Yvette Cooper: The potential efficacy and cost effectiveness of introducing universal vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharide for everyone over 65 years is under investigation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). JCVI will meet to review the evidence once these studies have been completed and make their recommendations to the Government.

Vaccinations

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of the last five years for which figures are available, the number of people aged (a) 0 to five, (b) six to 15, (c) 16 to 24, (d) 25 to 34, (e) 35 to 44, (f) 45 to 54, (g) 55 to 64, (h) 65 to 74, (i) 75 to 84 and (j) 85 and over, who contracted (i) pneumococcal and (ii) meningitis broken down by (A) region and (B) health authority.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 10 April 2002
	There is a statutory requirement to notify infectious diseases (listed on the Public Health Laboratory Service website www.phls.org.uk/facts/NOIDS/noidlist.htm) to the local consultant in communicable disease control. Reports received through this notification system are processed and collated by the communicable disease surveillance centre and are based on clinical symptoms only. These reports do not relate to laboratory confirmed cases.
	The total number of notifications of pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis for each of the last 5 years by age and region is shown in Tables 1 and 2. Copies of which have been placed in the library. As the number of cases of meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis for each health authority broken down by age is very low (and zero in a large number of cases) annual totals by health authority have been provided (Table 3) copies of which are also in the Library. Please note data provided for 2001 is provisional and may change.

Food Standards (Mobile Retailers)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many checks were carried out in 2001 on the safety of food sold from mobile caravans and trailers; how many failed to meet the required standards; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Such checks would be carried out by local authorities.

Healthcare (Herefordshire)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes the Budget of 17 April will make to the provision of healthcare in Herefordshire.

Yvette Cooper: As a result of the Budget, the National Health Service in England will receive an annual average real terms growth in resources of 7.4 per cent for the five years from 2003–04 to 2007–08. Local allocations to primary care trusts will be announced later this year.

Recruitment and Retention

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to improve retention and recruitment of doctors in hospitals in rural areas, with specific reference to the West Cumberland Hospital.

John Hutton: The Recruitment and Retention strategy focuses on all staff groups within the National Health Service including doctors throughout England. In order to ensure there are sufficient doctors in place to provide the treatment and care that patients need, there are a number of initiatives in place:
	Increasing the number of medical school and post graduate training plces;
	Improving Working Lives for doctors—which includes the Flexible Careers for Doctors Scheme, a centrally funded shceme that enables doctors to work part time and the Flexible Retirement initiative which allows doctors to consider options to retiring often with no negative effects on their pension. These include reducing workloads, reducing hours and joining winter registers to return to the NHS at times of crisis;
	The Changing Workforce Programme—has been set up to look at how to make the best use of the skills of the staff and improve job satisfaction. By doing so, it will help attract new staff into the NHS through new opportunities and will offer better career prospects for existing staff.
	National Recruitment Strategy; and
	International Recruitment.
	In the last year the number of NHS consultants rose to 5.7 per cent—the second largest increase on record—by 1,380 to 25,690.
	West Cumberland Hospital has experienced difficulties in recruiting doctors and has taken steps to alleviate the problems. These include:
	examining the possibilities for international recruitment;
	developing a recruitment website; and
	implementing the Improving Working Lives Standard to ensure that staff have access to flexible working patterns and childcare.

Outpatient Appointments

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital outpatient appointments were missed by patients in each year since 1997; and how much this has cost the NHS.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 April 2002
	The number of patients who did not attend consultant outpatient appointments from 1997–98 to 2000–01 are shown in the table. Information up to quarter 2 of 2001–02, is available on the Department's web site www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.
	
		
			 Year Total No of Outpatient Appointments Total No of Outpatient Attendences Total No of DNAs  per cent DNA 
		
		
			 2000–01 49,524,159 43,569,340 5,954,819 12.0 
			 1999–00 48,923,209 43,040,699 5,882,510 12.0 
			 1998–99 47,794,368 42,145,397 5,648,971 11.8 
			 1997–98 47,264,698 41,635,269 5,629,429 11.9 
		
	
	Note:
	Did Not Attends (DNAs) are counted for those patients who gave no advance warning for their non-attendance.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH09
	We do not centrally collect data on the cost to the NHS of patients who do not attend hospital outpatient appointments.
	As part of the NHS Plan all outpatient appointments will be pre-booked by the end of 2005. Patient will be able to choose a date and time that is convenient for them, well in advance. Booking systems, where introduced, have proved to significantly reduce numbers of patients failing to turn up for appointments.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the nature, extent and timetable of his review of the workings of NICE.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 16 April 2002
	The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry included a wide-ranging review of the role of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence. We carefully considered the inquiry team's recommendations and published our response.
	We are now carrying out a consultation on a number of outstanding issues. In March of this year, the Department and the National Assembly for Wales issued a discussion paper entitled "Clinical Guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence: Timing and Selection of Topics for Appraisal". The closing date for responses is 7 June 2002.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on the treatment of patients of the length of time taken by NICE, to assess treatments.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 16 April 2002
	The treatment of patients is enhanced by authoritative guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). In order to produce authoritative guidance, NICE's processes need to be of sufficient length to allow for proper evaluation of evidence and full consultation with stakeholders and experts.

Lymphoedema

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the resources allocated to the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoedema, in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 16 April 2002
	The Department does not collect figures on the cost of NHS services in a way that enables an accurate figure to be calculated for the cost of a particular disease.

Cancer

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the average length of time which patients with suspected cancerous tumours wait to be scanned following reference by a hospital consultant.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 16 April 2002
	We do not collect waiting times for scans. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans play an important role in the diagnosis of many cancers. The NHS Cancer Plan sets out new goals to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. The target is that by 2005 no one should wait longer than two months from urgent General Practitioner referral to beginning cancer treatment except for a good clinical reason or through patient choice. This target period includes the time for necessary scans and diagnostic tests. Data collection on the waiting times to treatment targets will be introduced as we roll out the Cancer Plan waiting times targets.
	We are also encouraging hospitals to streamline their services, for example by providing multi assessment one stop clinics where several tests can be carried out at the same visit. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for any scan is dependent on their clinical condition with emergency cases needing to be seen immediately whilst other cases can be carried out as quickly as possible. To increase the capacity of diagnostic services, funding has been made available for the provision of new and replacement scanners: 29 new MRI scanners, 81 CT scanners and over 330 pieces of equipment for breast screening delivered to the NHS since April 2000. In addition workforce initiatives are underway to develop new ways of working and improve recruitment and retention of staff.

Smallpox

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures were enacted to raise tenders for the production of smallpox vaccine recently in the UK.

John Hutton: holding answer 18 April 2002
	In seeking to establish which vaccine-manufacturing companies might be able to provide new smallpox vaccine to meet our requirements, we took the decision that purchase would fall outside the usual open competitive tendering process in the interests of national security, in accordance with Paragraph 6(c) of the Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995.
	Detailed confidential discussions were held with 5 major pharmaceutical companies known to have vaccine manufacturing capability either in the UK or in Europe. Our requirements for the vaccine strain, timing and delivery were made clear to each of the companies, who were then given time to submit their responses.

Glivec

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement about Glivec;
	(2)  what advice he has received from NICE about Glivec.

Yvette Cooper: holding answers 18 April 2002
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales have asked the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to appraise Glivec for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, and to issue guidance on its use to the National Health Service in England and Wales. It is anticipated that NICE will issue guidance in August 2002.

Health Council

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who attended the health meeting of the EU Council of Ministers on 4 June 2001 on behalf of the UK; and who led the UK delegation.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 16 April 2002
	The UK delegation to the European Union Health Council, held on 6 June 2001, was led by Susan Deacon, Scottish Executive Minister for Health and Community care, with the deputy Ambassador to the UK's Permanent representation to the European Union and appropriate officials.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Voluntary Sector (Funding)

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire of 25 January, Official Report, columns 1185–6W, on Government funding of the voluntary sector, if he will list the grant schemes and other mechanisms by which the Cabinet Office distributes funding to voluntary sector organisations.

Christopher Leslie: The Cabinet Office does not have any specific grant schemes dealing with funding to the voluntary sector.

Digital Equipment

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not held centrally and can only be supplied at disproportionate cost.
	My department follows the government's requirement to consider the whole life cost when making any purchasing decision. Whole life costs take account of possible future obsolescence.

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by his Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost;
	(2)  if he will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by his Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham on 12 February 2001 (Official Report, column 188W).

Better Quality Services Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the services of his Department have not been reviewed under the Better Quality Services Initiative; and when they will be reviewed.

Christopher Leslie: Since the implementation in October 1999 of the BQS initiative (a five-year rolling programme) the Cabinet Office has reviewed approximately 50 per cent by value of its pre-2001 Election units/functions.
	Following the Election the Cabinet Office has undergone a significant restructuring. The timing and nature of future BQS reviews of Cabinet Office functions/services will be considered in the light of these changes and the outcome of the current Spending Review.

Digital Television

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the number of subscriptions to (a) digital terrestrial, (b) digital satellite and (c) digital cable television held by his Department for services in any departmental building from which Ministers work, stating for each subscription its (i) cost and (ii) purpose.

Christopher Leslie: The Cabinet Office pays one subscription for digital satellite television services in departmental buildings from which Ministers work. £82 per month is paid to Sky Digital to allow access to the full breadth of news TV channels.